Method and means for measuring sliver production



Feb. 23, 1960 c. D. FORNEY, JR 2,925,530

METHOD AND MEANS FOR MEASURING SLIVER PRODUCTION Filed Feb. 9, 1956 wINVENTOR;

Cl/APLES D. fan/ex de.

ATTORNEYS Patent AND MEANS FOR MEASURING SLIVER PRODUCTION Charles D.Forney, Jr., Lawndale, N.C. Application February 9, 1956, Serial No.564,534 6 Claims. 01. 19-1s9 3 METHOD ter-operating rotatable elementwhich is driven by contact 7 with the moving sliver as the sliver isintroduced into the coiler head of a coiler mechanism.

It is another object of this invention to provide means on the coilerhead for resiliently supporting a recording counter whose countingmechanism is coupled to a shaft on which a wheel or roller is securedand whereby the wheel or roller rests lightly upon the sliver in itscourse over the casing of the coiler head whereby any abnormallythickened places or hard places in the sliver will elevate the wheel andthe recording counter as such thick or hard places pass beneath thewheel.

It is still another object of thisinvention to provide.

apparatus of the character described wherein means are provided forvertically adjusting the position of the re cording counter and,consequently, the wheel, to. accurately determine the displacementbetween the lower surface of the wheel and the upper surface ,of thecasingof the ,coiler head whereby the position of the wheel may be soadjusted that undesirablerelatively thin places in the sliver will notrotate theceunter wheel. Since the attend-v ants of sliver producingmachinery are generally .paid'on the basis of the actualelength of.theslivers, produced, this would be an ineentivefor the attendants to beon the alert for the occurrence of relatively thin places in the sliversso the necessaryvv corrections of the adjustments or operations .of thecorresponding machine. would be made promptly, thereby resulting in abetter grade or quality of sliver than would .betthercase in they event,that the improved measuring device was not used. 1

Someof the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as thedescription proceeds when taken in connection withtheaccompanying drawing, in which- 3 Figure l is a fragmentary view of asliver producing machine embodied in a carding. machine, showing thesliver as it is ,directed t'o a coiling mechanism with: theimprovedjsliver measuring device mounted upon the casingnofthecoilerhead, some of the parts beingbroken l away-and others being shown insection for purposes of clarity-y;

Figure 2" is an enlarged fragmentary elevation looking along line 2-2 inFigure l, but omitting the sliver;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan viewtaken substantially alongline 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewtaken suhstantial-lyalong line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Referringmore specifically to the drawing, the doffer or,- discharge endofa carding machine 10 is shown in Figure 1, the carding machine being apreferred embodi- 2,925,630 Patented Feb. 23, 1960 ment of a sliverproducing machine. The carding macover 20 has a conventional trumpet 22positioned therein forwardly of the guide 17 which condenses thesliveras it is drawn therethrough by a pair of coiler calender rolls 23.The calender rolls 23 direct the sliver S into an inclined passagewayor'tube 24 of a conventional tube wheel or tube gear 25 which is drivenin a conventional manner.

The coiler head 21 is supported on the usual pedestal 26 whose lower endrests upon the floor upon which the machine 10 rests and has a plate 27projecting therefrom having usual means therein for rotating a coilerplate 30 upon which a can 31 rests. Of course, the sliver S is coiledinto the can 31 bythe tubegear 25 in a well known.

manner.

The parts heretofore described are conventional and their operation iswell known in the art and, accordingly,

a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The means for carrying out the novel method for measuring sliver as itis produced comprises a registering counter 35 of the usual typeVeeder-Root, Inc., 25 Sargeant Street, Hartford, Conn. The registeringcounter 35 is be observed and which counter wheels '37 may be reset byconventional means including a reset handle 40. The counter wheels 37may indicate any desired type of lineal measure, but are preferablyarranged to indicate the numher of hanks of roving or slivers produced.

The registering counter 35 includes a shaft 41 extending substantiallyhorizontally therefrom on' which a wheel or roller 42 is suitablysecured, the wheel 42 overlying the cover or casingZllof the coilerhead21 at a point intermediate the guide 17 and the trumpet .22....Asubstantially U-shaped troughmember 43 is preferably pro vided below thewheel 42 to assist in maintaining'the sliver S in alinement with thewheel 42 asv the sliver passes between the guide 17 and the trumpet 22on the cover 20 of the coiler head 21. The periphery of the wheel 42 maybe irregular, concave or convex, but is preferably fiat as shown in thedrawing, It should be noted that the proximity of the wheel 42 to thetrumpet 22-issuch that--- are compressed or condensed the fibers in thesliver 'S' somewhat so that any additional'friction created at thispoint by engagement of the wheel 42 with the sliver S will not cause thesliver to '42 contacted the trumpet.

The registering -counter 35 is suitablyseeured, as by bolts 45, to theupper: surface of a hinged or vertically" I adjustable plate 46, theplate 46-preferabl-y being pro- 47 for the bolts 45 to facilivided withelongated 's'lots tate adjustment'of the counter 35 so the wheel 42 maybe properly aligned with the trough 43. The rear end of the plate 46;that is, the end thereof nearest the direction from which the sliver Sis moving, is pivotally or hingedly connected as upper portion orplatform 50 of a resilent support broadly designated at 51. Theresilient support 51 is shown in the form of a leaf spring member andthe forward end of the platform curves downwardly and beneath itself toform a relatively short bottom portion 52 which is such as manufacturedbyof the usual type having a window 36 therein through which counterwheels 37 may 1 break, as it would if the wheel sliver S at a point tooremote from the at 48 to the rear'end of the i suitably secured, asbyscrews'54 to the upper surface of the cover or casing 27 of the coilerhead 21.

The support 51 is preferably made from a resilient or flexible materialsuch as spring steel and it will be observed'in' Figuresd and 4" thatthe support is disposed to one" side" of the-path" of travel ofthelsliver in its course from the guide'1'7 tothe trumpet 22. It is thusseen that the platform'50 of the support 51 is biased tionalpart of theunit of length registered 'on'the registeringi counter 35"relative' tothe length of "such relatively thin portions'or places. This conditiongenerally exists when'a lengthfiof sliver S is initially threaded fromthecalendar rolls 15, -16into"the coiling mechanism and it is apparentthat the attendant of the sliver producing machineshould not be creditedwith having produced sliver of the desired size to constitute hanks orother form of lineal measurement, such as would be indicated by therecording counter 35, during such times that the corresponding leng thsof the sliver S are of a size, thickness orrdensity 'belowa. givenstandard.

Accordingly, means are provided for vertically ad justing theregisteringcounter" and its actuating wheel 42'relative to the troughi43 and thecover or casing 20 of the coiler head 21'which means also compensatesfor any variation which might exist in the resiliency of differentsupports 51. To this end, the forward portion of the hinged'or pivotedplate 46 is threadably penetrated by an adjustment screw or set screw 56whose lower end bears against the platform 50 and which has a lock nut57 threaded thereon for securing the set screw 56 in the desiredadjusted position. It is thus seen that, regardless. of. the flexibilityor resiliency ofthe support 51, as long as the'weight of therecordingcounter 35 and associated parts is sufiicient to bias the platform 50downwardly, the displacement between the proximal surfaces of the wheel42 and the trough 43 may be accurately adjusted. I

Although the support 51 is described herein as preferably being made'from a flex le material, it is contemplated thatth'e'support 1 or asimilar support may be made'froma rigidmateriahsince the set screw 56may be so adjusted to accurately determine the'displacement between thelower surface of the wheel 42 and the upper surface of the cover so thatonly that portion of the sliver which is of a predetermined minimumthickness will engageand impart rotation to the wheel 42.

It is' thus seen that I have provided a novel method of measuring theactual'length' of'sliver having 'a density or thickness of apredetermined standard including moving the sliver, when of properthickness, in engagement with a-wheel connected to a counting deviceimmediately in advance of the sliver entering the coiling mechanismwhereas, heretofore, the only way in which sliver lengths could bemeasured, to my knowledge, was to provide. a counting ,rneans. offsomedescription which would. be driven'by-the. calender: rolls, such as thecalender rolls 15. .16. It is apparent that, since such calender rollsas the'rolls 15', 16 are driven continuouslyvwith operation ofthe sliverproducing machine or carding machine 10, such counting devices driventhereby would also indicate length when there actually was no sliverpassing therebetween, or the sliver may have been of a thickness-ordensity below the desired standard.

In the drawing and specification there has been'set forth apreferredembodiment of the invention and, al-

thoughspecifictermsare employed, they are. used in a generic anddescriptive sense only and not for purposesof limitation, the scope ofthe invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of measuring sliver as it is produced on a sliver producingmachine which includes moving the sliver between a stationary member anda rotating wheel while condensing the sliver and driving the wheel byengagement of the wheel with'the'sliver and while maintaining. the wheelin suchspaced relation to the stationary member that the'whe'elis,drivenjon'ly by portions of the sliver which are of a predeterminedminimum density and thickness when so'condensed, and recording theamount of movement of the periphery of the wheel in a given linealgradation proportionate to the circumference of the wheel.

2. A method of measuring length of sliver produced as it is drawn into acoiler mechanism which includes condensing the sliver while moving thesliver in engage-. ment' WithQthe'coVer of the, coilerfmchani'sm and inengagement" with a 'whee'l to ca-use th'e'sli-veft'o' drive" said wheeland'while maintaining the wheel sue spaced relation to the cover thatthe'wheelis"driven";

only by portions of the sliver which are of apredetermined minimumdensity and thickness when 56- condensed, and; recording therevolutions'of said w'heiiiif such proportions as to indicatethelengthbfslive'rmov ing past 'said'wh'e'el. 3'. In a-sli'verproducing'"mac'hii1e havingwa' device fortaking up the sliver asit isproduced,said device having rotated only by sliver of apredetermined-thickness passing between the wheel and the fiat surface,and a counter coupled to said wheel for registering the length of thesliver which passesin engagement with and imparts rotation'to the wheel.I

4. Apparatus for measuringthe length of textile sliver as it enters acoiling mechanism wherein'the coiling mechanism is provided with a fiatsubstantially horizontal upper surface across which the sliver is drawnin it'scours'e" into the coiler head, said apparatus comprising'asubstan- 1 tially (t -shaped support made from'fa flexiblemateriaiand,having its lower portionfixe'dto said flat upper-surface, a registeringcounter carried by'the upper p'ortiori' of said support and having anoperating shaft extending therefrom and overlying the path of movementof said sliver, a roller fixed on said shaft and engageable by'thesliver, and the combined weight of the counter, shaftand'rollerservingto bias the roller toward the fiat surface, and the flexibilityof the upper portionof said support being such' as, to substantiallyovercome said cornbinedweight, as the;

weight biases said roller toward said surface; to where the roller ismaintained in spaced relation above said surface and is supportedindependently ofrthe sliver whereby the sliver rotates'saidroller toregister the length of said sliver on the registering counter. a

5. Apparatus for measuring the length of: textile sliver as it enters acoiling mechanismwherein the ceiling" mechanism isprovided with a flatsubstantially h'ori zontal upper surface across'which the-sliveris'dr'awn-in its course into" a coiler head; said apparatus'comprisin'ga substantially C-shaped support made from a flexible material andhaving its lower portion fixed to saicLflat upper surface, a platepivotally connected to the upper portion of said support, a registeringco'unter' attached to said plate, said counter having an operating'sh'a-ft extending therefrom and overlying the path of movement of saidsliver, a roller fixed on said shaft and engageable by the sliver, thecombined weight of the' counter,--shaft and rollerserving to bias theroller towardthe fiat surface, :and "means forfadjusting said plateabout itspivot} relative to the upper portion of said support to therebyadjust the displacement between the proximal surfaces of the roller andsaid flat surface of the coiling mechanism, whereby the sliver rotatessaid roller to register the length of sliver on the registering counter.

6. Apparatus for measuring the length of textile sliver as it enters acoiling mechanism wherein the coiling mechanism is provided with a fiatsubstantially horizontal upper surface across which the sliver is drawnin its course into a coiler head; said apparatus comprising asubstantially C-shaped support made from a flexible material and havingits lower portion fixed to said flat upper surface, a plate carried bythe upper portion of said sup port, a registering counter secured tosaid plate, said registering counter having an operating shaft extendingtherefrom and overlying the path of movement of said sliver, a rollerfixed on said shaft and engageable by the sliver, the combined weight ofthe counter, shaft and roller serving to bias the roller toward the flatsurface whereby the sliver rotates said roller to register the length ofsaid sliver on the registering counter, and means for verticallyadjusting the plate relative to the upper portion of the said supportfor adjusting the displacement between the proximal surfaces of theroller and the flat up per surface of the coiler mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

